What are the main MOT differences between BMW 3 Series and Audi A4?

The BMW 3 Series has a 26.1% overall MOT failure rate (1,841,976 tests) while the Audi A4 has 25.6% (1,164,705 tests). The top failure area for the BMW 3 Series is lamps & electrics, while for the Audi A4 it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4?

From an MOT reliability standpoint, the Audi A4 has a lower failure rate. However, MOT pass rates are just one factor — also consider insurance costs, fuel economy, running costs and personal preference. Use AutoSafe's free prediction tool to check a specific vehicle by registration.

BMW 3 Series vs Audi A4 — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Q: Which is more reliable, BMW 3 Series or Audi A4?

Based on 3,006,681 MOT tests, the Audi A4 is more reliable with a 0.5 percentage point lower failure rate. The BMW 3 Series has a 26.1% failure rate while the Audi A4 has 25.6%.

BMW 3 Series

26.1%

failure rate from 1,841,976 tests

2.0pp below UK avg (28%)

Audi A4

25.6%

failure rate from 1,164,705 tests

2.4pp below UK avg (28%)

Verdict: The Audi A4 is more reliable based on MOT data, with a 0.5 percentage point lower failure rate than the BMW 3 Series.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 compare across different age groups:

Age	BMW 3 Series	Audi A4	Difference
0-2 years	12.7%	10.5%	Audi A4 +2.1pp
3-5 years	11.5%	12.5%	BMW 3 Series +1.0pp
6-10 years	20.4%	21.0%	BMW 3 Series +0.6pp
11-15 years	30.2%	31.8%	BMW 3 Series +1.6pp
15+ years	33.3%	38.7%	BMW 3 Series +5.3pp

Component Risk Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown of which MOT failure areas each model is weaker in:

BMW 3 Series Component Audi A4

5.2%

Lamps & Electrics

4.5%

3.9%

Suspension

4.3%

3.7%

Brakes

2.8%

3.7%

Tyres

3.6%

2.0%

Visibility

1.5%

0.8%

Body & Chassis

1.9%

0.4%

Steering

0.6%

Component	BMW 3 Series	Audi A4	Better
Lamps & Electrics	5.2%	4.5%	Audi A4
Suspension	3.9%	4.3%	BMW 3 Series
Brakes	3.7%	2.8%	Audi A4
Tyres	3.7%	3.6%	Audi A4
Visibility	2.0%	1.5%	Audi A4
Body & Chassis	0.8%	1.9%	BMW 3 Series
Steering	0.4%	0.6%	BMW 3 Series

Which Is More Reliable: BMW 3 Series or Audi A4?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 3,006,681 tests between these two models, the Audi A4 comes out ahead with a 0.5 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Audi A4 fails 25.6% of the time compared to the BMW 3 Series's 26.1%.

However, the gap between these models varies by vehicle age. Younger examples of both models tend to have more similar pass rates, while differences can become more pronounced as vehicles age and accumulate wear. Component-level data shows each model has different weak spots — the BMW 3 Series's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Audi A4's is lamps & electrics. Knowing your model's specific weaknesses helps you target pre-MOT checks where they matter most.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component risks represent the probability of failure in each specific area. Data covers 142 million MOT tests across the UK. Comparisons are based on aggregate statistics and individual vehicle condition will vary.

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